Foldable boxes



April 29, 1958 M. SMALL FOLDABLE BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1953 ATTORNEYS April 29, 1958 M. SMALL.

FQLDABLE BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14. 1953 NVENTOR. 5mn/ BY dm g L20-c). a

NGL

......4r...aa

TTORNEYS FOLDABLE BOXES Milton Small, Lawrence, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 14, 1953, Serial No. 397,967 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-33) This invention relates to foldable boxes.

It is an object of the present invention to have, in a foldable box with a finished bottom, provisions for rapidly unfolding the side and end walls of the box and holding them securely in their unfolded or set-up wall-forming relation against collapse, prior to closing the box at the top thereof, thereby to permit ready packing of the unfolded box with goods without danger of collapse of the partly set-up box.

it is another object of the present invention to provide a foldable box of this type with at least two opposite walls, each of which is, in its unfolded condition, formed by two layers of the box material, thereby not only reinforcing these box walls and, hence, the entire box against breakage when the latter is packed with goods, but also affording better facilities for improved provisions by means of which to hold the side and end walls of the box in their unfolded wall-forming relation most securely against collapse when the box is being packed with goods.

It is another object of the present invention to extend the double-layer walls of the box beyond the open top of the latter and to use these wall extensions as inwardly foldable aps which not only form partial covers for the box, but serve also as effective support for the remaining cover or covers of the box, while at the same time, maintaining the box in its unfolded set-up condition.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide a foldable box of this type which is well adapted to be formed from unitary integral blank of corrugated paper or other suitable sheet material.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

in the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by me of carrying out my invention:

Fig. l is a plan view of the blank in its developed form from which my foldable box is formed;

Fig. 2 is a view of the blank after the initial folding operation has been performed;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but showing the blank in its completely folded condition;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of my foldable box in different stages, respectively, of its set-up;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section in perspective, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 6 but without the end flaps folded inwardly;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 6 with the cover sections closed; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 6 showing the corrugated cardboard from which the box may be made.

Referring now to the drawings in which Figs. l

States Patent through 9 represent the preferred embodiment of my invention, reference numeral 10 generally designates a folding-type box embodying the present invention. The box 10 comprises a bottom 12, opposite side walls 14 and 16, opposite outer end walls 18 and 20, and opposite cover sections 22 and 24. The aforementioned surfaces` are formed from a single blank of material, such as corrugated cardboard for instance, and the blank is of a. substantially square configuration as shown most clearly in Fig. l. A cross section of the corrugated cardboard from which the blank may be formed is shown in Fig. 9, wherein an intermediate corrugated cardboard layer 25 is lined on its opposite sides with smooth cardboard layers 27 and 29, respectively. While corrugated cardboard of this type will provide a relatively strong box, it will nevertheless be understood that various other types of cardboard may be used if desired. Side walls 14 and 16 are foldably connected to the bottom 12 along fold lines 26 and 28, respectively, while the outer end walls 18 and 20 are foldably connected to said bottom along fold lines 30 and 32, respectively. The cover sections 22 and 24 are foldably connected to the side walls 14 and 15, respectively, along fold lines 34 and 36, respectively. Foldably connected to the extremities of the side walls as at 38, 40, 42 and 44 are portions generally designated 46, 48, 50 and 52. These portions, in a manner hereinafter to be described, form inner wall portions which cooperate with the outer end walls 18 and 20 to form end walls on the box of a double thickness. The inner wall portions 46, 4S, 50 and 52 have diagonally disposed fold lines 54, 56, 58 and 60, respectively. These fold lines effectively divide their respective inner wall portions into two parts, namely, a mounting tab and a wing tab. The mounting tabs are designated at 62, 64, 66 and 68 while the wing tabs are designated at 70, 72, 74 and 76. The inner wall portions have foldably connected thereto, as along fold lines 78, 80, 82 and 84, extended portions generally designated at 86, 88, and 92, which extended portions cooperate, in a manner to be subsequently described, to provide end flaps, designated generally at 83 and 85, for the box. Each of the extended portions has formed therein two fold lines disposed parallel to the aforementioned fold lines 78, 80, 82 and 84. Thus, extended portion 86 has fold lines 94 and 96, the extended portion 88 has fold lines 98 and 100, extended portion 90 has fold lines 102 and 104 and the extended portion 92 has fold lines 106 and 108. The outer extremities of the extended portions, defined by the fold lines 96, 98, 104 and 106, are designated by reference characters 122, 124, 126 and 128, respectively. It will be noted that the extended portions 90 and 92 each have outwardly extending projections 110 and 112, respectively, the purpose of which will later be made apparent. It will further be noted that the outer end walls 18 and 20 .have disposed therein fold lines 114 and 116, respectively. In addition to the aforementioned fold lines, the blank is also severed at the locations indicated by the solid lines in Fig. l. More specifically, each of the inner wall portions is severed from its adjacent outer end wall while each of the extended portions is severed from its adjacent cover section and also from its adjacent wing tab. Also, the diagonal fold line of each of the inner wall portions terminates in an arcuate slit as will be apparent.

In setting up my foldable box the following operation is performed. First of all, each of the inner wall portions is folded upon itself about its respective diagonal fold line. Referring to inner wall portion 46, for example, the mounting tab portion 62 thereof is folded downwardly about the fold line 54 to a position wherein it overlies the wing tab portion 70. At the same time, the extended portion S6 will swing upwardly and assume the position shown in Fig. 2. T his same operation is performed at all four corners whereby the blank assumes the appearance illustrated by Fig. 2. The blank is then folded along the fold line 26 bringing the side wall 14 and cover section 22 into face-to-face contact with the bottom 12. At the same time, mounting tabs 62 and 64, along with their extended portions 86 and 88, respectively, swing over into face-to-face contact with outer end walls 18 and 2i), respectively. The same folding operation is then performed about the fold line 28, although it will be understood that the portions 16 and 24 will overlie surfaces 14 and 22 while the mounting tabs 66 and 68 and their respective extended port1ons 90 and 92 will swing into side-by-side alignment with the aforementioned mounting tabs and their respective extended portions. This side-by-side alignment results from the fact that the side walls and the inner wall portions are of a width that is one half the width of the bottom wall. Thus, as shown most clearly in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the inner edges of the inner wall portions of each of the end walls meet each other thereby forming a complete inner wall of uniform thickness. The blank now assumes the appearance illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings with the projections i12 and 11! overlying the outer ends 25.7333 and E24 of the extended portions F36 and S3, respectively. Said projecting parte are then secured to the surface which they overlie as by staples 11S. ln the position of Fig. 3 the mounting tabs, as aforedescribed, are in faee-to-face contact with the outer end walls. More specifically, mounting tabs 62 and 68 are in face-to-face contact with outer end wall 18 while mounting tabs 6e and 66 are in face-to-face contact with outer end wall 20. The mounting tabs are now secured to the outer end Wall with which they are in contact, as by staples 120, for example. It will be understood, however, that instead of staples 118 and 124), any other inode of securement, such as cementing for instance, may be utilized. The box is now ready to be unfolded whereby to attain its set-up position.

Referring to Figs. 5 through 7, the box is shown in various stages of its set-up. Before setting up the box, however, the extended portions 86 and 92, which are secured together as aforedescribed, may be simultaneously folded about their fold lines 94 and 198, respectively, and bent back upon themselves thereby establishing a flap of double thickness. At the same time the ends of said extended portions, namely 122 and 12S form tab-like portions which are releasably engageable underneath the outer extremities of the wing tabs 79 and 76. in Fig. 3 the lower extended portions 88 and 9i? have been folded in the manner just described while the upper extended portions 36 and 92 are illustrated in their flattened state.

After extended portions 36 and 92 have been folded in the manner just described the box is ready to be set up. This is accomplished by pivoting the side walls upwardly as shown in Fig. 5. At the same time, the inner wall portions will be swung upwardly to an upstanding position carrying therewith their respective outer end wall portions due to the aforedeseribed securement between said outer end walls and the mounting tabs of the inner wall portions. The extended portions, which are releasably engaged by the wing tabs as aforedescribed, are then folded inwardly over the open box as shown in Fig. 6. The outer walls are then folded inwardly along fold lines 114- and 11o, respectively, thereby providing additional inwardly extending iiaps 13@ and 132 as clearly depicted in Fig. 6. The cover sections 22 and 2d are then swung inwardly to complete the enclosure.

It will be understood that Fig. 3 represents the form in which the foldable boxes may be shipped. Whether the extended portions of the blank be folded over as per the lower half of Fig. 3 before shipping or whether the extended portions remain in their flattened state as per the upper half of Fig. 3 during shipping is a-rnatter of choice which probably will be dependent upon shipping space limitations. Although it is desirable to fold the extended portions, as aforedescribed, before setting up the box, this is not absolutely essential, since the box could be set up rst and then the extended portions could be folded over and tucked beneath their respective wing tabs, much in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. It will be apparent that when the box is in its set up condition, as per Fig. 6, in which the cover sections have not been folded to close up the box, the box is ready to be loaded with whatever goods it is desired to puel'. therein. The double thickness of the end walls will not only serve to increase the strength and rigidity of the box, but also the releasable engagement of the extended portions with their respective wing tabs, as aforcdescribed, will serve to maintain the box in its setup condition during the packing thereof. This obviously will greatly facilitate the packing operation, thereby resulting in an appreciable saving of time and labor.

it will be noted that the meeting edges and the crease lines of the inner end wall portions of the box are covered by overlying portions of the outer end walls of the box and that said outer end Walls extend, without interruption, for the full width of the box. Further it will be noted, that in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention the divided upper inturned portions 86, 92 and 38, 90 are overlapped by the inturned flaps 130 and 132, respectively, of the outer end walls 18 and 2li so that when the box is set up there are no exposed lines of division of the inturned inner wall portions at the outer ends of the box, and further it will be noted that the flaps i310 and 132 in conjunction with the liaps 36, 92 and Sd, 90 at the opposite ends respectively of the box provide reinforcements at the top of the box at both ends of the latter so as to help sustain the box in its set up condition to prevent any substantial weight on top of the box from forcing the top of the box downwardly and inwardly and pressing against or crushing garments or other merchandise packed in the box.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the idea or principles of the invention Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A flat-foldable box compris-ing a bottoni wall, side walls integral with and foldably connected to said bottom wall, outer end Walls integral with and foldably connected to said bottom wall, inner end wall portions integral with and foldablyconnected to the ends of the opposite nide walls, respectively, at each end of the box, and separated from the adjacent outer end respectively, by splits, each of said inner wall portions having a diagonal fold line extending inwardly from the lower end of the adjacent side wall whereby 4each of said inner wall portions has two parts which are relatively movable from overlapping relation in the flat-folded condition of the box to at least partially coplanar relation in the set-up condition ofthe box, said inner end wall portions at each end of the box being covered on the outer sides thereof by the outer end wall at the adjacent end of the box, one of said parts of each inner wall portion being fixed to an outer end wall and having a foldable extension at its outer end separated from the other part of the same inner wall portion at the outer end of said other part, intermediate portions of said extensions being reversely foided and disposed substantially' parallel to the bottom wall in inwardly extending position at the upper end of the box in the set-up condition thereof to form a ledge, the two parts of each of said inner wall portions being partially separated by a slit therebetween, the end portion of said foldable extension of the companion inner portion being engaged with said two parts in said slit for retaining said intermediate,v portions of said extension in said inwardly extended position thereof.

(References on following page) 5 References Cited in the le of this patent 2,428,845

UNITED STATES PATENTS 906,310 scruby Dec. s, 1908 1,354,012 Backmann Sept. 28, 1920 f 1,675,414 Koi July 3, 1928 11,010 1,699,269 Bachmann Ian. 15, 1929 468,707

Guyer Oct. 14, 1947 Ringler Sec. 13, 1949 Painter June 5, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 4, 1902 Canada Oct. 10, 1950 

